'All this (weekend) baking doesn't just yield lots of cakes. It also teaches kids how to control themselves. With its orderly measuring and sequencing of ingredients, baking is the perfect lesson in patience. So is the fact that French families don't devour the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven, as I would. They typically bake in the morning or early afternoon, then wait and eat the cake or muffins as a gouter(pronounced goo-tay)-the French afternoon snack'.

I had a chance to test this out. Someone suggested putting the leftover madeleine batter in the pan and FREEZING IT! Then simply defrost and put in the oven 8-10 minutes.

The 2nd batch of madeleines came out better than the 1st batch. But how NOT to eat them in one fell swoop?

I found I could do it! Big Merci to Power of Habits + Bringing Up Bebe. I now have a tin full of madeleines waiting for gouter time.

That was before Ooh La La Confectionary sent us a box of candies from CapeTown yesterday. The delish calissons are gone. I ate all 12 of them in one fell swoop. The best laid plans of 'bears' and men oft go astray.

*update: Sat afternoon I made a 'betise'. In a weak moment I downed THREEmadeleines, then fell into a comatose sleep. We will not even discuss the delicious nougat from S.Africa :(

Once I lost weight very fast by following Atkins.For sweets - I could have a root beer with whipped cream (my doctor told me that one).Also, sugar free pudding and jello with whipped cream. You can only use Splenda sweetener.You can have a lot of things but no sugar, bread,cereal, pasta, rice, fruit, no white flour . . it's beena very long time but it was easier than I thought. My friend and myself went to a fast food hamburger place and she said, "why don't you try eating that cheeseburger without the bun"? I said, I can't but then I put the lettuce on both sides instead of the bun and it was great.I followed it for months until my daughter, son in-law and grandchildren moved in while they built their new home. Daughter was doing the cooking and I thought.I'll go off until they move but once they moved I was never able to get back onthat diet again.I kept some of those extra small clothes . . . maybe someday I will get motivated again. lolGood luck to you!Melody

I like the French way in Bringing up Bebe/Power of Habit, where you change your approach to food and eating.You learn to WAIT and save something for another day. That's the challenge for me.It's snacktime/gouterTime for my one-a-day madeleine + teaand trial by fire : )

I find that no matter what my weight when I start out, I lose on the trip. I used to walk so much more than I did at home, now I feel lucky that I live in a big city where I walk everywhere and keep my weight low anyway :)Chocolate burns off faster than cheese, by the way lol.

Carol, you've made me smile yet again with this post. I don't think that I've ever really dieted before a trip abroad. Usually the pre-departure week is full of tying up lots of loose ends at the workplace, and elsewhere, and that usually gets my metabolism into a new gear.

Also, while traveling, I do walk a lot, and often don't think so much about snacking as I might at home. Yes, I do admire those baked treats on display, but know I don't really need to sample them all!

Once upon a time I lived within a four minute walk from a wonderful Italian bakery. Just knowing that it was there sort of helped me to keep my sampling under control.

Really enjoy the book bringing up bebe too! Having said that, Czech children snack once in the afternoon too but if anybody is hungry or needs something...it is never forbiden and we simply eat when hungry... so we eat a little and wait...and see if needed more...it is a very natural thing to do once brought up that way i guess....I don't like overeating and feeling too stuffed ...naturaly. Diets don't work, eating of the menu in Europe is much better than ordering dressing on the side...(((: so have fun with it! I WILL TRY you madeleine batter tomorrow, can't wait! Enjoy Paris! hugs Z

*A BIG secret to making the madeleines so they get that precsiou 'hump'/bump is to pour the batter into the tray (3/4 fullish only) And then let them REST ONE HOUR+ in the fridge!!I will add it to the madeleine post a tout a suite :)Cheers

So happy to find your blog! I eat what I want and walk every where...except the haul to the brocantes! I don't know if it is that the food is fresh here and has little to no preservatives or that the walking but I don't have an issue with like I did in the US. Paris is not the place to worry about it. I say enjoy and have a great time!!

But it's about taking yr mind of losing weight and distracting it with more interesting subjects like habit-changing or how the French eat.It's takes the onus/negative edge away and engages your mind (over matter) in a positive way.Well that's how I see it. :)

Best way to lose weight? Try that other French favourite....cycling...2 hours a day. You'll lose all you want to and best of all, you can eat anything you want...whenever you want. Plus it is still the best way to get around Paris and see everything from close up. It works for me. I've been the same weight since I was 18...40 years ago!

Surely you don't need to lose any weight at all, Carol? Those madeleines look completely delish - that kind of thing is my downfall. Think I need to get hold of that book too, I like the concept of shifting the focus of your mind as you described it.

I found your post while searching for thoughts about the Bebe book. I found several of the tips very helpful... especially the notion of teaching children self-control. Now if only I could learn it too!

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♥carol gillott♥

Paris, Ile de France, France

I moved to Paris 2 years ago. I should have done it sooner but that's how the macaron crumbles. Living on the Ile Saint Louis next to the Seine after the 19eme is 'la cerise sur la gâteau'. It doesn't get any better. I've painted watercolors for Bocuse, Champagne Mumm, Guerlain, Frederick Cassel, The Russian Tearoom and the Maharana of Udaipur.
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